Medical Research: think BIG

Medical Research: think BIG

Monday 18 February 2013

The Australian Medical Association (WA) has welcomed the announcement by Premier Colin Barnett that a Liberal Party plan for medical research would be released later this week but urged the Government to “think big”.

“The AMA has met with all political leaders over recent months to explain our plan of establishing a Medical Research Council with funding of $40 million a year,” AMA (WA) President Richard Choong said.

“We therefore await Mr Barnett’s announcement this week with excitement but also with concern. The amount dedicated to medical research should be substantial and it should be ongoing,” Dr Choong said.

“By developing a strong and growing medical research component to our culture and our economy, WA can begin to insulate itself from the economic storms that assault us at times. We should not have our economy based solely on mining but on using our medical and research skills.

“We call on all political parties in this election to take medical research seriously. WA has the research capacity; we have the researchers who in turn have the drive, intelligence and the keen inquisitiveness necessary to excel in research. It seems however that we only lack the political will,” Dr Choong said.

“We therefore call on all political parties to dedicate $40 million annually for the creation of a WA Medical Research Council for the good of our future as a vibrant and intelligent state.”

According to a study commissioned by the AMA, the majority of funding for health and medical research development is provided by the Federal Government.

For further comment or to contact Dr Choong, please call Robert Reid: 0422 553 877.

"It is my hope that we can tackle the challenges our profession faces, united as one. If we dislike our working hours, our pay, gender inequality or low training opportunities, we can change these together. As a nurse in my previous life, I know that when a profession stands as one, people listen."

Dr Rebecca Cogan

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